Dozens rally in Khartoum against visit by Egypt's Sisi

Former army chief Al-Sisi, a who was declared the winner of Egypt's May presidential polls, arrived in Khartoum on Friday afternoon for talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Middle East

28 Haziran 2014 Cumartesi 09:49

World Bulletin / News Desk

Dozens of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups demonstrated in Khartoum on Friday to protest a visit to Sudan by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who is widely seen as the architect of last summer's military ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi.

Al-Sisi, a former army chief who was declared the winner of May presidential polls, arrived in Khartoum on Friday afternoon for talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Al-Sisi flew in from Equatorial Guinea, where he had attended the 23rd African Summit.

Upon his arrival, protesters outside a mosque near Khartoum University shouted slogans against the Egyptian president, who over the last year has waged a deadly crackdown on dissent – mainly targeting Egypt's Islamists – that has left hundreds dead and tens of thousands reportedly behind bars.

Security was beefed up around the protest's perimeter, but no clashes took place, according to eyewitnesses.

Al-Sisi is expected to talk with al-Bashir on a host of issues, topped by Ethiopia's multibillion-dollar hydroelectric dam project, currently being built on the Nile's upper reaches.

According to an earlier statement by Sudan's Foreign Ministry, al-Sisi is expected to inquire after the health of al-Bashir, with whom he will likely discuss bilateral issues.

A Sudanese diplomatic source, however, said talks would likely be dominated by the Ethiopian dam issue.

Sudanese officials have recently signaled their support for the Ethiopian dam project, which Egypt fears will reduce its traditional share of Nile water.